by Peter Atkinson

G’day Loophole Lovers, today we’re going to be trying to justify some bullshit discussing in an objective manner whether the Destro Regiment of Renown works in one of its two home factions.

You can check out his rules here:

Regiments of Renown

There was a pattern in the Regiment releases that you couldn’t use them in their original affiliation, but Big Grikk is a bit different. Thanks to the unique structure of the Orruk Warclans book, they actually have two homes: Kruleboyz and Big Waaagh. The Regiment’s rules are very clear that you can’t take him in Kruleboyz specifically, so he can definitely be taken in Big Waaagh; there’s no ambiguity about that part.

The question is, if you do take him in there, can you layer up the buffs from the Kruleboyz support pieces, like you would for the equivalent naked warscrolls? Or is he locked out of that?

It’s a pertinent question as Big Waaagh’s stocks are rising while the Killbow (and therefore Regimental) points continue to creep down. All rules citations are credit to Games Workshop via Wahapedia, so let’s go through it together step by step.

What buffs are we talking about?

There are two in particular we’d like to access, that make it easier to proc the MWs and make more happen when we do:

Note that both of these apply specifically to the Venom-encrusted Weapons (VEW) battle trait.

Ha! It doesn’t work then, because Big Grikk doesn’t use VEW

Settle down. It’s correct to say that he doesn’t have access to that battle trait on his Warscroll. Instead he has a separate warscroll ability that accomplishes something similar, but which would not be compatible with those buffs:

And that’s fine. We just won’t use that warscroll ability. We’ll use VEW instead, and therefore apply the buffs.

Can you do that?

Yup, just watch me. First step is that we can include him in the army because it has a Destruction general but is not a Kruleboyz army (see Organisation, above).

Once we do so, we get access to VEW:

VEW requires the Kruleboyz and Orruk keywords:

And Badda-Bing, we have both:

But isn’t he an Ally? Doesn’t that mean he can’t use the VEW Battle Trait?

First question: yes, probably. Second question: nope, he’s golden.

Regarding him being an Ally, the Organisation section refers to “no other allied units” (my emphasis), heavily implying that this Regiment itself is an Allied unit.

I think we’re all vaguely aware that Allies can’t use faction stuff, but what do the rules have to say on that?

The rules tell us that they can’t use Enhancements – that’s it. No reference at all to battle traits. So if they are Allies (which they likely are), we can use VEW.

And if they’re not Allies?

Then we’re still good. I can’t find anything at all saying that Mercs can’t use battle traits – and I’ve looked. Closest I got was that they’re probably Allies, and Allies can’t use “faction stuff” – but that specifically (and only) applies to Enhancements. Not to battle traits. Allies and Universal options generally lack the keywords to make use of the tech in the faction they’ve landed in – but that’s not the case here.

Can you just choose to use VEW though?

Yup, the Toxin-laden Skewers ability and VEW would have the same trigger. Per 1.6.4 we have to choose one or the other. So we just choose to trigger VEW instead of TLS, and BAM! we’re golden.

Isn’t this a bit much?

Lol no. This is a game where Ruptured Krondspines exist.

If you think Big Grikk getting buffs from Kruleboyz support pieces is whacky, you must have lead a pretty sheltered life.

Is it worth taking in a competitive Big Waaagh list?

Maybe? You’d only take it if you were taking the generic Boltboyz anyway, in which case the downside is that you can’t reinforce the units of 3 to extract maximum benefit from the Poison. You’re situationally getting an extra shot against specific targets if you hit lucky with the artillery first – but mainly, you’re adding a drop to your lists and getting a Killbow for 50 points.

Given that the Killbow still isn’t seeing sustained competitive play at 80 points – because the damn thing only has one shot, which this Regiment goes out of its way to avoid fixing – it’s marginal, but getting to the point where it’s got to be worth a crack. I’ve been putting the Regiment in my Gargants lists where it can give you some much-needed “stuff” to spread out and contribute to Battle Tactics, but in Big Waaagh specifically I’d say it falls into “worth a try” rather than “rush out and buy”.

One big point in his favour is that the Kruleboyz BT for standing near terrain can go up in a puff of smoke whenever Gobsprakk gets punked. Just having that one KB unit in your list is a risk, so I’ve been experimenting with a Beast-skewer in my Big Waaagh lists to have redundancy on that BT, and it’s worth something that Big Grikk can make a contribution in that way too.

The main competition for Allies in my own Big Waaagh lists would be Grots, and you can only take one or the other. I’d argue that 40 or 60 Allied Stabbas or Shootas makes a bigger contribution to scoring primaries (and keeping opposition units the fuck away from you while you rack up the automatic BTs), and is therefore more competitive currently; but if you like Big Grikk and you’re investing in the buff pieces already, then Big Waaagh is a decent enough home for him. Food for thought.

But…But…But…

I went into this actively trying to find a rules reason why it doesn’t work, and came up blank.

I’m always happy to be told I’m wrong – and if someone can explain to me a good rules reason why I’m wrong here, I’ll update the article and give you credit.

Reasons that I will not accept include:

• I don’t like it
• But doesn’t he get his own thing instead of VEW?
• It seems odd
• But…but…but…

Again – tell me why and how I’m wrong and I’ll happily retract. But I want it be based on actual rules and not your feelings about them, so you’ll need to put something more on the table than your elbows.

Unless and until that happens: it works, people.

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